Separator-slicing machine.



T. A. WILLARD.

SEPARATOR SLICING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IUNEEI` I9I5.

1,297,767. Patented May. 18,1919.

2 sIIEETs-sHET I.

im" 40 lIII-IIII-I-IIIIIIIIIIII T. A. WILLARD.

sEPARAToR sLlcING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9. 1915.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- TF' .i ,d W48 verzfo -47 /f m4 W' THEOJORE A. WILLARID, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Y SEPARATOR-SLIGING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. v Patented DIar. 18, 1919.

Application led Julie 9, 1915. Serial No. 32,994.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, THEoDoRn A. WILLARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of hio, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Separator-Slicing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, andyeXact description.

This invention relates to a separator slicingfmachine adapted particularly for cutting Vor slicing stora e battery separators from a semi-soft or yieldable block of rubber, with the rubber semi-vulcanized or softened by heat.

The main object of the invention is to provide a slicing machine which` is adapted to eiiciently slice a block of the character stated, and which cuts'the block into thin flatsmooth-surfaced separator sections which are uniform in thickness.

With the ordinary slicing machine in use at the present time for other purposes, smooth separators of uniform thickness could not be cut from the block for several reasons, but especially as the block would be bulged outv of shape by the knife which would also compressor force the block' back and atn some strokes would not cut at all and stant compression. Additionally, I provide in connection with this feed mechanism a gageK board against which the forward end of the block is yieldingly pressed and in fact forced with considerable pressure. Still further; I provide certain novel clamping means which securely clamps the block on all four sides adjacent the 'end which is being cut by the knife, this clamping means releasing the block at each retraction of the blade, so that it can be fed forward the exact yor predeterl mined distance desired.

The invention comprises certain other features of construction, including the arrangement and construction of the support and guidey forthe block or stock being sliced, and

means for automatically stopping the feed- ,ing action when the follower bearing against the rear end of the block reaches acertain position with 'reference to the cutting blade.,

The invention may be further briefly sum-` marizedas consisting in certain novel details of constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts, which will be described in the specification and set forth in the` appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets ofdrawings Figure 1 is a side view of a forward portion of the machine with the stock holder in vsection substantially along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of thel machine showing particularly the stocksupporting and guiding means and the feeding mechanism; Fig. 3 is a view of the cutting end ofthe machine looking toward the vleft of Fig. 1; Fig. 4y is a View of the same part of the machine looking toward the left of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the ,inner side of the stock support, showing the same substantially as it appears when Viewed from the left of Fig 7 Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the knife-holder, knife and gage lb0ard,.the section being taken substantially along the line 646 of Fig. l; Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the stock holder and guide, `the section being taken substantially along the line 7 -7 of Fig. 2; and Fig.

8 is a view looking toward the left of Fig. 2, showing in end elevation the stock holder and feed mechanism..

The machine constructed in accordance with my invention, includes a bed' 10, which may be of any suitable construction. This bed accommodates' a reciprocating head 11 which may .be actuated by any suitable mechanism, a part of which is shown at 11a in Fig. 1,'and carries a slide or knife-holder' 12 provided with an inclined knife 13 and with a portion beneath the knife and constituting a gageboard 14 which is parallel with the knife butis offset slightly from the edge of the latter an amount equal substantially to the thickness of the separators which are to be cutl from the block. Just'beneath the knife and extending parallel thereto is an adjustable member 14a, having an inturned portion, whose inner face is parallel with the inner face vof the gage board 14, and is adapted to engage the block to be out close to the edge of the knife. When the knife is sharpened this member will be adjusted toward the edge of the knife so as to maintain the slot between therl member and the edge of the knife ofsubstantlally predetermined or constant width.

' plained laterl in more detail.

. Extending outwardly from the forward' end of the bed, at right'angles to the pla-ne of reciproca-tion of the. knife, is a long stock holder and guide 15 which is rectangular in cross-section and is provided with a base or bottom 15a' and two sides 15b and 15C, the .latter being of less depth than the side 15". This long box-like stock holder is preferably turned so that the base 1'5al is at an angle of about degrees with respect to the horizontal, and is supported at its inner end by being securely bolted to an L-shaped standard 16 projecting upwardly from the bed near the plane of reciprocation of the knife. This stock holder is adapated to receive a block or body 17 which is adapted to be sliced into separator sections and is`v preferably composed of' rubber and fibrous material, with the rubber in a soft or semivulcanized condition.- The block is only semi-vulcanized when sliced, because the separators are very thin, andwhefn sliced from a hard or completel vulcanized block they curl upand cannot e flattened unless 'they are' softened by 'a j heating process, which has an'. unsatisfactory effect on the '30, f

separators.

The feed mechanlsm acts on a follower or compressor 18 which engages the end of the block andl travels along the stock holder and j screw is not actuated positivelyor turned an exact or predetermined distance. atl each stroke of the cutting mechanismlas is gen` erally the case in feeding mechanisms for various kinds of machine'tools, butfat each stroke of the .knife is turned an amount depending upon the degree 'of compression of the block' and somewhat.' upon the hardness of the block and the condition of the knife. edge. l

' 4 The mechanlsm for actuating this -feed screw includes lalong shaft 22, which is parallel to the feed screw, butl extends forwardly beyond 'the latter beneath 'and slightly beyondl the knife.

This shaft 22,

vwhich is supported in suitable bearings at its front and yrear ends, is provided at its forward end with la .projecting arm 23 which is engaged by a member 24 secured to the lower p art of the reciprocating holder 12 for the knife and gage board. Each time the knife isvretracted the shaft 22 is turned Y or rocked a predetermined amount'. The

The

naamwA rear end of the shaft 22 has secured to it a depending` arm 25 carrying on its side a lug bf a number of spaced openings with which the arm 25 is provided. Extending loosely through this lug or boss 26 is'a rod 27 which at its forward end is connected' to' an arm v 28 loosely mounted on the rear or outer end of the feed screw l21. Surrounding this rod 27 is a coil spring 30, one end of which engages the lug orboss 26, while the other end or boss 26 whichmay be secured in any one engages a nut -31 adjustably1mounted on the rod 27, thelatter being'threaded so as to accommodate this nut andI to permit it v to be adjusted valong the rod. 'Fixed to the feed screw or shaft 21 is a ratchet wheel 32,

the teeth ofrwhich are adapted'to be engaged by coperating ratchet pawl 33 pivotally mounted on the arm 28 and spring-pressed ..85

toward `the ratchet wheel. 4This pawl 33 turns the ratchet wheel forwardly at each forward stroke of the arm 28, while a similar spring-pressed pivoted pawl 34 prevents reverse movement of the ratchet wheel It will be observed that the connection between the' arms 25 and 28 includes the coil spring 30, and that theamo'unt of movement*i which isl transmitted to the arm 28 Iby the,

arm 25 will depend upon the strength or the amount of compression normally in the '95 spring 30. When theshaft 22 and the arm 25 are turned, the spring30 will rst be,

compressed a certain amount and thence will shift the arm 28 Vand the threaded feed jscrew.' If the nutA 31 is adjusted, ythe amount of movement which is transmitted Ito the arm 28 -at each forward throw of the arm 25 is increasedor decreased, depend- 1n adjusted. This adjustment is of consideron the direction in which the screw is able importance to compensate for the gradual dulling of the knife blade, for asf the blade' becomes duller it has an increasing tendency to force back the block and lcut thinner sections. If, however, the nut 31 is.

adjusted from time to time toward the arm 2,5 Iso 'as to shorten thez spring'or increase its normal compression, the threaded shaftvwillbe fed forwardly aslightly greater amount with each forward-'adjustment of the nut',

with the result 'that the compression of the block which is being cut -is increased a suf-A ficient amount to compensate-for -the increased dullnessof the blade.

The block is maintained uiider compresf'sion while it is being sliced, as beforestated',

and this spring 30 and the nut 31 not only I admit of adjustment to compensate for the 'l increasing dullness ofthe knife as the slicing progresses, but-it maintains afs'ubstan? ltially uniform degree of compression inthe block,thus compensating for variations inv degree of hardness in the same block or different blocks which are successively placedin the machine and sliced.

The block is compressed between the follower and the gage board 14, which, as beforestated, is reciprocated with the knife and is offset somewhat therefrom an amount depending upon the thickness o f the-separa' tor. vThis gage board not only gages the thickness of cut, but it is essential in order that the soft or yieldable block may be maintained under compression. s A spring 22a (see Fig. 2), which surrounds the shaft 22 near its outer end, serves to return the shaft 22 to normal position after each feeding stroke. The returnmovement is limited or stopped by an abutment 28a which is engaged by the arm 28. (See F ig. 8.) The shaft 22 and arm 25 positively ret-urn the bolt 27 and arm 28 to normal position, due to the fact that during the reverse swinging movement of the arm the boss 26 engages an abutment preferably in the form of a pair of nuts 31a on .the outer part of the rod 27 near the boss 26.

In order that smooth uniform sections may be cut from the block, it is necessary that the latter be securely clamped on all four sides at a point or plane very near the knife. This is accomplished by the means of a Vshaped clamping device 35 havingrr two arms at right angles to each other and adapted to engage one corner of the block and two sides o f the same, and to force the A block firmly against the bottom 15a and rear side 15b of the stock holder, with the result that clamping pressure will be applied to all four sides of the block. This V-shaped clamp 35 is pivotally connected to a block or plate 36l which is adjustably secured to an arm 37 pivoted at 38 to the frame of the machine near the plane of reciprocation of the knife. The clamp is pulled inwardly toward the corner ofthe block 17 firmly but yieldingly' by a stiff coil spring 40 and by a rod 41, which is pivotally connected to the arm 37 and passes through the upper part of the standard 16 and through the coil spring, the lat-ter engaging a nut at the outer end of i the rod 41 and also engaging the standard,

as shown. The plate 36 will beadjusted along the arm 37 so as to adapt the clamp 35 to the size of the block 17 and toy properly position the same with respect thereof.

Between the upper end of the arm 37 and the standard 16 are two toggle arms 42 and 43,1which, at their point of union or con.

nection, carry a roller 44. Normally these two arms are at slight angles to each other, with the center of the roller some distance above the plane passing through the pivoting centers of the arms 42 and 43, z'. e., the pivotal centers about which the two arms 42 and 43 turn. These arms are held in this position by the spring 40 when `the clamp 35 engages the block or when` a section is being cut from the lend of the block.

For the purpose of drawing the clamp away from the block so that it may be fed forwardly after the separator or section has been out from the. block, the kniferholder 12 is provided at the top thereof with a cam 45, which on. the retraction of the blade engages the roller 44, forcing it downwardly, spreadingthe toggle arms and swinging the arm 37 so as to draw the clamp away fro-m the block. This takes place while the knife is retracting, and as soon as the clamp is released'from the block the block is fed forwardly a certain amount by the feeding mechanism, whereupon, upon the forward movement of the knife and before the knife engages the block to make the next cut, the cam 45 moves beyond the roller 44, which immediately springs upward under the'ac-A tion of the .spring 40, permitting the lat- -ter to bring the clamp into clamping engagement with the4 block. This results in 85 a clean cut being made by the knife and pre: vents distortion or bulging ofthe block when the knife engages the same, and results also in all the sections being of substantial uniform thickness. y

Preferably the side or wall -15c of the stock support and guide is provided on its inner face, near the V-shaped clamping device 35, with a leaf spring 46, (see Figs. 2 and 5) which spring bears' against one side 95 of the block near the end being cut or sliced and holds the same up against the face 15" of the stock support when the V-shaped clamp is retracted or released from the block 17, to permit the same to be fed forwardly.

,In addition to the parts above described, I have provided means for automatically stopping the feed of the follower 18 and the block 17'when the follower reaches avpoint 105 adjacent the clamp. This can be best explained by reference to Figs. 2, 5 and 7, from which 'it will be observed that the member 19 which engages the threaded feed screw 21 is supported by an endwise mov- 110 member 19 to engage the threaded feed screw. l/Vhen, however, the shaft is turned a certain amount from said position,l` a 1,20 spring 49 surrounding the plunger shifts the nut 19 out of engagement withthe feed screw. The shaft carrying the cam can be lturned manually by means of a handle 50,V fand it is turned automatically to stop the feeding action when the follower reaches a predetermined position. This last is accomplished by providingon the side 15c of the stock guide near the clamp 35 a project-ion 51.50 positioned that it will be engaged by a depending finger or cam 52 mounted on the shaft just above the side 15c of the stock support. The rocking of this fingerv turns the shaft 48 and permits the spring 49 to elevate the vnut 19 from the feed screw so as to stop the feeding action. This prevents injury to the parts by the follower feeding forwardly too far.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to be confined to the exact details shown, but

1 about said body in a plane adjacent the plane of the cutter.

2. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same, a stock holder adapted to accommodate a yieldable body `substan- 4tlally rectangular in cross-section, means for feeding the stock along the stock holder, and means for producing clamping pressure on allfour sides of the body so that said body yis clamped substantially allI around the same `adjacent the cutter. 4

3. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same, a stock holder adapted to accommodate a yieldable body adapted to be cut, said stock holder having angularly disposedsides, means for feeding the stock intermittently along said holder, and means lngaging two sides of said body and acting urin ' body intoa corner formed b twoadjacent sides of the stock-holder,sai means engaging the stock adjacent the cutter.

4. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same, a stock holder adapted to accommodate a yieldable rectangular body, means f or feeding the body along the stock holder, and means engaging the two sides` of the body ata corner thereof and serving to force said body Ainto the angle formed by two sides of the stock holder, said means producing' a clamping pressure on all sides o the body adjacent the cutter duri-ng the cutting operations.

5. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for i operating the same, a stockholder adapted to accommodate a yieldable body, means for feeding said body along'the stock holder, a V-sha'ped clamp adapted to engage said body adjacent the cutter during the cutting operations and force the same against the stock holder and thereby produce a clamping presthe cutting operations tov force said meme;

sure around the body close to the cutter, and a movable support for said clamp.

6. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same, a stock holder adapted to accommodate a yieldable body, means for feeding said body along .the stock holder, a clamp adapted to engage said body during the cutting operation and force the same against the stockholder and thereby produce a clamping vpressure around the body close to the cutter, a movable support for said clamp, means acting on said support to draw the clamp yieldingly against the body, and means for shifting the support for .said

vclamp so as to release the body from said .ing said body along the stock holder, a pivoted arm adjacent the plane of reciprocation of the cutter, a clamp supported by -said arm and adapted to engage the body adjacent the cutter and force the same against the stock holder and thereby produce la clamping pressure around the body close to the cutter, and means for pressing said clamp yieldingly against said body during the cutting operations. 1 A

8. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same, a stock holder at right angles to the cutter and adapted. to accom-- modate a yieldable body, and fcedlng mechanism acting on said body for feeding the body along said stock holder and for malntaining said body under compression, sald feeding mechanism comprising an actuatlng member, and yieldable means between sald member and the body.

9. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same, a stock holder, means for intermittently feeding the stock along said stock holder, comprisinga feeding member acting on the stock, an actuatmg member therefor, and means comprising va sprmg for transmitting movement between said actuating member and said feeding member.

10. .In a l,slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same, astock holder, means for'intermittently feeding the stock along said stockholder, said means comprising an actuating member, means comprismgE a springv for transmitting movement between said actuating member and the stock, and an adjustable abutment for the spring.

11. In a slicing machine,-a cutter, means the. feed screw, an intermittently moving actuating member, and a spring between said ing said member, and means connecting said member and said feed screvsT comprising a spring and an adjustable abutment for the spring.

13. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same, a stock holder adapted to accommodate a yieldable body, means for feeding stock along said stock holder comprising a feed screwa follower engaging the stock and operatively connected to the feed screw, a shaft, means for intermittently turning the shaft, means for transmit- ,ting movement from said shaft to the feed screw comprising a compression spring .adapted to be compressed by the turning of the shaft, and means for adjusting the normal compression of the spring. C

14. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same, a stock holder at right angles to the cutter, feeding mechanism for feeding the stock along said stock holder,

said feeding mechanism' comprising a' feed screw, a follower adapted to engage the stock and operatively connected to the feed screw,/a shaft, means for turning said shaft a predetermined amount at each stroke of the cutter in one direction,`mea'ns for transmitting movement bet^ween the shaft and the feed screw, and means in said movement transmitting -means for varying the extent of movement which 'is transmitted to the feed screw.

15. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same., a stock holder at right langles to the cutter and adapted to accommodate a yieldable block to be cut, a

gage board adjacent the cutter and odset therefrom, and feeding mechanism for intermittently feeding stock along said stock holder into engagement with the gage board.

16. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same, agage board movable with the cutter and 'offset therefrom, a Stock holder at right angles to the cutter and adapted to accommodate a yieldable stock, and means for feeding the stock intermittently along the stock holder and for pressing the stock against the gage board.

17. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operatingv the same, a stock holder at right angles to the cutter and adapted to accommodate a yieldable block to be cut, a

gagey board adjacent the cutter and offset therefrom, and a spring actuated feeding Vfor feeding the body along the stock holder,

a clamp for engaging the body adjacent the cutter during the cutting operations, means for causing the clamp to move into and out of clamping engagement with the body, and yieldable means adjacent said clamp for pressing the lbody against the stock holder when the clamp is out of clamping engagement with the body.

19. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same,a stock holder adapted. to accommodate a body kto be sliced, means for feeding the body along the stock holder, a clamp for engaging the body and for forcing the same against a portion of the stock holder, means for moving the clamp into and out 0f clamping engagement with the said body, and a spring supported by said stock holder and adapted to engage said body to press the same against the stock holder when the clamp is out ofclamping engagement with the body.

20. In a slicing machine, a cutter adapted body against said gage, said gage having an adjustable member movable toward and from the edge of the cutter.

21. In a slicing machine, la cutter, means for operating the same, a support for yieldable stock to be cut, a gage movable with said cutter, means for feeding the stock toward the cutter and forcing the same in engagement with the gage, said gage comprising a part fixed relative to the cutter and an adjustable member carried thereby and movable toward and from the edge of the cutter.

22. In a slicing machine, a cutter, means for operating the same, a stock holder adapted to accommodate stock to be cut, means for v' feeding the stock alongthe stock holder, said means comprising a follower adapted t0 en: gage the rear end of the stock, an actuating membertherefor extending lengthwise of the stock-holder and adapted to be engaged Y lby said follower, and means for automati- `rear end of the stook, a feed screw'extending lengthwise of the stock holder; said follower having a movable member adapted to engage the feed screw, and meansl for automatically 5 stopping the feed ofthe stock when the follower reaches a predetermined point with respect to the cutter?. said means comprising a )movable member carried by the follower and controlling the position of saidpart en- 10 gaged in the feed screw and a member on the stock holder adapted to engage said movable member of the .follower and to shift the` same.

In testimony iwhereof, I hereunto aix my 1 signature in the presence of two witnesses. 15

y 'IVIEODORE A. WILLARD. Witnesses: i

' L. I. PORTER,

A. J. HUDSON. 

